Force based gesture control of a robotic surgical manipulator

ABSTRACT

A method of controlling a robotic arm in a surgical system comprises manually applying a force to a body of the robotic arm. Force information is received from a gesture force sensor on the robotic arm and a controller determines, using the force information, whether the force is a gesture force input. If the force is determined to be a gesture force input, the controller initiates a predetermined system function. The predetermined system function may be a change in operational state, movement between operational modes, or a movement from a first configuration of the arm&#39;s joints to a second, predetermined, configuration of the arms joints.

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/612,556, filed Dec. 31, 2017.

BACKGROUND

Commercially available surgical robotic systems use a plurality of robotic arms. The arms may be positioned on separate bases independently moveable within an operating room, or on a common base, or on other fixtures within the operating room, such as the patient table or a ceiling mounted fixture. Each arm carries a surgical instrument, or a camera that is used to capture images from within the body for display on a monitor. See U.S. Pat. No. 9,358,682. The arms electromechanically position and/or orient the camera and instruments and, where applicable, actuate the instruments. Typical configurations allow two or three instruments and the camera to be supported and manipulated by the system. Input to the system is generated based on input from a surgeon positioned at a master console, typically using input devices such as input handles and a foot pedal and, in some cases eye gaze input. Motion and actuation of the surgical instruments and the camera is controlled based on the user input. The image captured by the camera is shown on a display at the surgeon console. The console may be located patient-side, within the sterile field, or outside of the sterile field.

For a given surgical robotic system, there are certain steps involving movement of the manipulator arms that may be routinely used. For example, there are certain movements that are frequently needed during set-up of the system prior to surgery, such as to configure the system to allow it to be covered by sterile drapes. Other movements are used to configure the system for storage between surgeries. Still other movements might be needed during the course of the surgery.

This application describes features that improve the usability of the robotic system by enabling the users to control some of the functionality of the robotic manipulator. In the disclosed embodiments, commands are given to the system using force-based gesture control, allowing the user to simply push on the robot in a unique way to command the desired change to the system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a surgical system, having robotic arms, that may incorporate the force-based gesture control features described herein;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an alternative robotic arm that may be used in a system having the force-based gesture control features described herein;

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating a first embodiment of a force-based gesture control method;

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating a second embodiment of a force-based gesture control method;

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a third embodiment of a force-based gesture control method;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Although the inventions described herein may be used on a variety of robotic surgical systems, embodiments will be described with reference to the systems shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The FIG. 1 system includes one or more robotic arms 13, 14, 15, each of which includes an end effector unit 20 at its distal end. The end effector unit 20 is designed to receive the proximal end of a detachable surgical instrument 10. The effector unit 20 is arranged to support the proximal end of the corresponding instrument in a mechanically rigid manner, and it is further provided with actuating means for actuating certain types of instruments. It may also include signal and power connection means for electrically connecting the instrument 10 to the system. In use, the distal end of each instrument is positioned in a body cavity of a patient, and its corresponding robotic arm is controlled by the system to position, orient, actuate (e.g. jaw open-close) the tip of the instrument within the body cavity.

A surgeon console 12 has two input devices such as handles 17, 18 that the surgeon selectively assigns to robotic arms 13, 14, 15, allowing a surgeon working at the console to control the surgical instruments 10. Where two handles are used, the surgeon can simultaneously control two of the instruments using the handles 17, 18, and control a third one of the instruments by operatively disengaging one of the handles 17, 18 from one of the initial two instruments and then operatively pairing that handle with the third instrument. One of the instruments 10, such as the instrument on arm 14, is preferably a laparoscopic camera that captures an image of the working site within the patient. An image display 23 at the console 12 displays the image captured by the camera. As described in U.S. Pat. No. 9,360,934, the system may include an eye tracker 21 that allows the surgeon to control movement of the camera by shifting his/her gaze with respect to the displayed image and/or by altering the distance between his/her eyes and the display. As described in that patent, the console may further include a human machine interface rendered on a portion of the display 23, and other input devices such as a keyboard and foot pedal.

The system includes one or more controllers 30 operationally connected to the robotic arms and to the user interface. In this description, the singular term “controller” will be used for simplicity, but it should be understood that that term is being used broadly to mean one or more controllers. The controller 30 comprises one or more computers programmed with software that, among other things, generates movement commands for operating the robotic arms based on surgeon input received from the input devices 17, 18, 21 corresponding to the desired movement of the surgical instruments 10. Associated with the controller 30 is memory programmed with instructions that cause the controller to execute a method according to which it determines whether force information received from sensors on an arm meets predetermined rules or parameters as to what constitutes gesture force input, and activates a function or changes a mode of operation or operational state of that arm in response to gesture force input.

The system is configured to allow the user to impart forces directly (i.e. against the arm itself or a sterile covering or drape on the arm) to the robotic arm by manually pushing or pulling against the arm, and to have the controller respond to such forces as input commanding the control to carry out a predetermined system function. To allow for force gesture control using the principles described below, the robotic arms include one or more gesture force sensors (GFS) that generate signals corresponding to forces or torque exerted on the robotic arms. The GFS may be one solely used by the system for gesture force input, or it may be one used by the system for other purposes such as to estimate forces at the tip of an instrument 10 during its use in a surgical procedure (e.g. for determining the haptic information needed to provide force feedback to the surgeon at the console). Sensor configurations described in U.S. Pat. No. 9,707,684 for this latter purpose may be used to receive gesture force input using the principles described in the present application. More particularly, that patent describes a 12-DOF (i.e. 12 axis) force, torque and acceleration sensor (referred to as “F/TAS”), which may be configured as single sensor unit comprising a 6-DOF force/torque sensor, (“F/T sensor”) hereinafter, for sensing forces and torques on three orthogonal axes, and a built-in 6-DOF accelerometer, for sensing linear and angular acceleration about the three orthogonal axes. Alternative sensors listed in that patent include a 6-DOF F/T sensor with an appropriately associated separate 6-DOF accelerometer. The prior patent describes the sensor as is rigidly fixed to the robotic arm. For example, the sensor may have a sensing plate rigidly connected to the effector unit 20. Instead of the described F/TAS, a sensor unit comprising only a 6-DOF F/T sensor (i.e. no accelerometer) can be used. In the latter case, acceleration components can be determined using the second derivative of position coordinates of the end-effector (e.g. effector unit 20) obtained e.g. by direct kinematic computation using articulation positions. As described, compensation of dynamic loads can thus be achieved without an accelerometer.

As another alternative, the system may make use of torque and/or force sensors disposed at the joints of the robotic arms rather than the 6 DOF force/torque sensor fixed to the effector unit 20. Commonly owned WO/2017/132696, Force Estimation Using Robotic Manipulator Force Torque Sensors, filed Jan. 30, 2017, describes a robotic manipulator arm 50 of the type shown in FIG. 2, which may be supported by a cart, or mounted to the floor, ceiling mount, or patient bed. A surgical instrument 52 (which may be a laparoscopic type of instrument) is mounted to an effector unit of the arm as shown. The arm is moveable in multiple degrees of freedom which in this example are shown as seven rotational axes of the robotic arm. More particularly, the arm has a plurality of segments, each rotatable at a joint about a rotation axis. These axes are A1 through A7 in FIG. 2. A plurality of the joints, which may be each joint, includes sensors such as angular position sensors and/or torque sensors. The external loads applied to the instrument can be determined by using the measured torques and positions at each such joint, adjusting for the known effects of gravity and accelerations, as described in that application. During the operation, the forces applied by the instrument end effector can be measured and used to provide haptic feedback to the operator via the surgeon console. These sensors may also be used as gesture force sensors in accordance with the principles described in the present application.

While certain examples of GFS arrangements and features have been described, it is not intended that the scope of the inventions described herein be limited to any particular arrangement or feature, and it should be appreciated that other GFS arrangements and features not specifically described herein are encompassed within the scope of the described inventions.

The use of GFS input for certain system functions improves the usability of the robotic system by enabling users standing adjacent or in proximity to the robotic arms to control some of the functionality of the robotic manipulator. In the disclosed embodiments, a user gives commands to the system using force-based gesture control, allowing the user to simply push on an arm of the robot in a unique way to command the desired change to the system. Using force-based gesture control, the user can advance through system setup, toggle the arm between an enabled operational state (in which its movement can be command by motion of a handle 17, 18) and a disabled operational state, cycle through control modes, etc. without requiring a user to navigate through a menu on a user interface at the surgeon console or press a series of buttons located on the robotic arms or the surgeon console.

Gesture Force Input Determination and System Functions

As discussed, the system is programmed with instructions that, when executed, cause the controller to carry out a method for controlling a function of the robotic surgical system using gesture force input. Within those programmed instructions are a set of rules or parameters defining the information that is to be accepted by the system as gesture force input. Based on these rules and instructions, the controller can determine whether force/torque information received from the GFS is to be accepted as gesture force input.

As non-limiting examples, the rules or parameters in the programmed instructions may include any of the following alone or in combination with each other or with others not listed here:

(a) the area on the robotic arm at which force/torque is being applied. The facilitate this form of input, the robotic arm may be marked with areas identifying areas at which gesture force input is to be applied. In some examples, different areas of the arm may be marked as being the gesture force input zones for certain types of input. Thus, as a specific example, one region is marked as the gesture force input zone for a first mode of operation, operational state or arm position or pose, and a second region is marked as the gesture force input zone for a second mode of operation, operational state or arm position or pose.

(b) the direction of the applied force/torque

(c) the frequency of the applied force/torque (e.g. a rate of between X and Y pushes per 2 second period)

(d) the number of instances of applied force/torque over a time period (e.g. 2 pushes within a 3 second period)

(e) the duration of application of force/torque (e.g. a duration of between 2-3 seconds)

(f) the direction and/or distance of displacement of parts of the robotic manipulator

(g) status or position of the robotic arm (e.g. if the robotic arm is in a disabled state, a gesture force meeting some other parameter such as those listed here is considered to be gesture force input)

(h) stage of the surgical procedure (e.g. if other input to the system indicates that the surgical procedure is in a particular stage, a gesture force meeting some other parameter such as those listed here is considered to be a gesture force input).

The programmed instructions may additionally include instructions as to the system functions that will be commanded once force/torque information is determined to be gesture force input. Many types of system functions are contemplated. These include, but are not limited to:

(a) moving the arm to a particular predefined pose or configuration in which the joints are positioned to arrange the arm in a configuration most suitable for arm storage, arm draping, instrument mounting onto the effector unit, or as a home position for insertion of the instrument into the patient.

(b) causing the arm to withdraw an instrument tip from the patient (e.g. use of the arm to move the instrument in a proximal direction along the longitudinal axis of the instrument shaft), and/or, after replacement of a first instrument with a second instrument, advancement of the second instrument into the body cavity to position its tip in the same position and orientation possessed by the first instrument before its withdrawal.

(c) determining the fulcrum of the instrument shaft (i.e. the pivot point of the instrument at the incision site) using a process such as that described in in commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 9,707,684, or instrument calibration tasks.

(d) changes in the system's operational state (e.g. between enabled or disabled).

(e) changes in the system's mode of operation. Examples of modes of operation include, without limitation, any of the modes described in U.S. Ser. No. 15/978,069, filed May 11, 2018, which is incorporated herein by reference, as well as the following:

-   -   Fully Compliant Mode—In this mode, the manipulator arm is in a         “compliant” state in which it can be freely repositioned by the         user by exerting force on the robotic arm (hand-guiding). The         motors of the robotic arm may be activated to perform active         gravity compensation such that the manipulator and payload float         freely in space enabling the user to move the payload and         manipulator without need to support the weight of the         components. In this particular state, the arm and payload can be         moved in any direction or orientation, only restricted by the         range of motion of the robotic manipulator. In another         embodiment, some of the components or axes may be supported by         passive gravity compensation using mechanisms as an alternative         to motor torque. This can also be thought of as a “follow me”         mode, in which the robot will follow the user's guidance as s/he         grabs and repositions the manipulator arm.     -   RCM Hand-guiding—In this mode, the manipulator arm is in a         “compliant” state in which it can be repositioned by the user by         exerting force on the robotic arm, with some restrictions. The         robotic arm's motors are used to perform active gravity         compensation such that the manipulator and payload float in         space enabling the user to move the payload and manipulator         without need to support the weight of the components. In this         particular state, the arm and payload can be moved by the user,         but the robot will only allow the payload to rotate about a         fixed control point (3 rotational degrees of freedom). The         instrument or engine (payload) can be rotated about the fulcrum         point but cannot be translated. The payload can only be         manipulated in 3 rotational degrees of freedom, the         translational degrees of freedom are restricted by “stiffness”         simulated by using the motors of the robotic manipulator.     -   Z Translate—In this mode, the manipulator arm is compliant in 1         or 2 degrees of freedom, along a single axis, and can be         repositioned by the user by exerting force on the robotic arm.         The robotic manipulator's motors are used to perform active         gravity compensation such that the manipulator and payload float         in space enabling the user to move the payload and manipulator         without need to support the weight of the components. In this         particular state, the arm and payload can be moved by the user,         but the robotic arm will only allow the payload to be moved         along the trocar axis (the longitudinal axis of the instrument)         through the incision site and optionally rotate about the trocar         axis, but not in any other translational or rotational degrees         of freedom. All other degrees of freedom are restricted by         “stiffness” simulated by using the motors of the robotic         manipulator.     -   Payload Hold+Null Compliance—In this mode, the manipulator arm         holds the payload (engine or instrument) stationary in space,         while the manipulator arm itself is compliant. In this         particular state, the arm can be moved by the user, but the         payload cannot. This requires that the arm has more than 6         degrees of freedom built into the mechanical design (e.g. FIG.         2). As a result, the arm can hold the payload fixed in position         and orientation while the arm itself is free to move. The user         is able to push or pull the robotic arm into different positions         without moving the end effector which may or may not be actively         in use inside a patient. This allows the OR staff to move the         arm to ensure that it is out of the way during a surgical         intervention.     -   RCM Hand-guiding+Z Translate—In this mode, the manipulator arm         is in a “compliant” state in which it can be repositioned by the         user by exerting force on the robot, with some restrictions. The         robotic manipulator uses the motors to perform active gravity         compensation such that the manipulator and payload float in         space enabling the user to move the payload and manipulator         without need to support the weight of the components. In this         particular state, the arm and payload can be moved by the user,         but the robot will only allow the payload to rotate about a         fixed control point and translate through that point along the         trocar axis (4 degrees of freedom=1 translational+3 rotational).         The instrument or engine (payload) can be rotated about the         fulcrum point and moved along the trocar axis but cannot be         translated in the other 2 degrees of freedom. The payload can         only be manipulated in 4 degrees of freedom, the other 2         translational degrees of freedom are restricted by “stiffness”         simulated by using the motors of the robotic manipulator. The         fulcrum (control) point remains in a fixed position in space as         the instrument or engine is moved along the trocar axis. This         ensures that as an instrument moves in or out of the patient,         the fulcrum point of rotation is still at the incision site,         minimizing trauma to the patient during the procedure.     -   Wheels-unlocked mode to allow repositioning of the arm to         another position or orientation on the operating room floor.

The system may be programmed to operate with varying levels of complexity depending on the number of gesture force inputs to be recognized by the system and the number of system functions that can be carried out based on gesture force inputs.

In a most simple example, gesture force input is used only to toggle an arm between two different states (e.g. enabled and disabled), configurations/poses or modes. In more complex examples, the programmed instructions map each gesture force input in a collection of gesture force inputs to each operational modes, functions, or operational states in a collection of modes/functions/operational states. As another example, the system may be programmed with a sequence of operational states, and the controller commands the system to advance from one operational state to the next operational state in the sequence each time gesture force input is received. For example, if the user wishes for the robotic arm to move from a first, storage configuration, to a second position more extended position more suitable for draping, the user may push twice on the robotic arm. The force and/or torque sensors in the manipulator will detect these forces and the controller can identify that this type of force applied while in the storage pose indicates that the robot should move to the draping position. After draping, the user might repeat the gesture force input, causing the robotic arm to position itself in the next position in the sequence, such as one in which the effector unit is positioned or configured for instrument attachment.

In a further modification of the prior example, the system is further programmed to move from one operational state to the previous operational state in the sequence in response to a second type of gesture force input.

Method

A first method of using the disclosed force-gesture control system will next be described with respect to FIG. 3. As a starting point, the gesture force input capability of the system is turned on. Step 100. In each exemplary method the system can be set up so that gesture force input capability is always activated when the surgical system is powered on, or it may be set up to require an additional act to place the system into a gesture force input mode. In the latter example, a user may place the system into gesture force input mode using an input action at the surgeon console (e.g. keyboard input, input at the HMI, eye tracking input, voice input, a button press on a handle 17, 18, touch input on a touch sensitive surface), at one of the robotic arms (e.g. a button press, touch input on a touch sensitive surface, voice command) or some other location.

With the system in gesture force input mode, a user applies a force gesture to the robotic manipulator to communicate the user's intent as to the function to be performed by the system, or as to the operational mode or state the user wants the system to enter. The controller receives force and/or torque (“F/T”) information from the GFS in the corresponding robotic arm, Step 102, and determines whether the information is gesture force input. Step 104. An affirmative determination in Step 104 means that the F/T information satisfies the rules or parameters in the programmed instructions that define the information that is to be accepted by the system as gesture force input.

If the F/T information is determined to be gesture force input, the controller commands the system to perform the system function associated with that gesture force input. Step 108. If the system utilizes multiple forms of gesture force input for multiple system functions, Step 108 is preceded by an additional step of determining, using the programmed instructions, which system function is to be formed based on the form of gesture force input received. Step 106.

In a second method illustrated in FIG. 4, Steps 200-204 are similar to Steps 100-104 of the first method, but in the second method gesture force input is used to advance through a sequence of operational states. Once the F/T input is determined to be gesture force input (Step 204), the system advances from its current mode of operation/operational state to the next one in a predetermined sequence. Step 206.

A third method is similar to the second, but the third method includes the additional step (Step 306) of determining whether the gesture force input is the one programmed for forward or reverse advancement through the arm positions and/or modes/states of operation in the sequence. This allows bi-directional advancement of the system through a sequence of positions and/or operational states in response to gesture force input. Thus, the programming is set up to map a first type of gesture force input to forward advancement of the system through the sequence, and to map a second type of gesture force input to a reverse advancement of the system through the sequence.

As a non-limiting example of the third embodiment, the system may be programmed with a sequence of states that include a storage position, a draping position, an instrument mounting position, and a hand-guiding operational mode. A first gesture force input (e.g. 3 pushes in a 2 second period) is applied to the arm, and the controller causes the arm to move from the storage position to the draping position. After draping, the first gesture force input is repeated by the user, prompting the controller to cause the arm to move from the draping position to the instrument mounting position. If, prior to instrument mounting, the user determines that the arm must be returned to the draping position for adjustment of the drape or some other purpose, the user applies a second gesture force input that is different from the first gesture force input (e.g. 2 pushes in a 2 second period). The controller then causes the arm to return to the draping position. Once the drape has been adjusted, the user repeats the first gesture force input to cause the controller to again advance the sequence in the forward direction to return to the instrument mounting position and then, once the instrument is mounted, the user can once again repeat the first Gesture Force input. This prompts the controller to change the operational state of the arm to the hand-guiding state, allowing the user to guide the arm to insert the tip of the instrument into the body cavity.

All patents and applications referred to herein, including for purposes of priority, are incorporated herein by reference. 

I claim:
 1. A surgical robotic system, comprising: a robotic manipulator arm configured for robotic positioning of a surgical instrument in a body cavity, the robotic manipulator arm including at least one force sensor; at least one user input device remote from the robotic arm; a robotic system controller responsive to input from the user input device to move the robotic manipulator during a surgical procedure; and a processor; wherein the force sensor is positioned to generate first force signals in response to force input applied directly by a user to the body of the robotic manipulator and the robotic system controller is further responsive to said first force signals to initiate a predetermined system function; and wherein the force sensor is positioned to generate second force signals in response to forces exerted on the surgical instrument during movement of the surgical instrument in a body cavity, and wherein the processor is configured to provide haptic feedback signals to the user input device based on the second force signals during a surgical procedure.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the system function is movement of the manipulator arm to a predetermined pose or position.
 3. The system of claim 2, wherein the predetermined pose or position is selected from the group consisting of storage configurations, draping configurations, instrument attachment configurations, home configurations.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the system function is movement from a first mode of operation to a second mode of operation.
 5. The system of claim 4, wherein the first or second mode of operation is selected from the group consisting of a fully compliant mode, an RCM hand-guiding mode, a z-translate mode, and a wheels-unlocked mode.
 6. The system of claim 1, wherein the system function is movement from a first operational state to a second operational state.
 7. The system of claim 6, wherein the first operational state is an arm disable state.
 8. The system of claim 1, further including a memory having programmed rules or parameters defining force information that is as gesture force input, and wherein the controller is responsive to input from the force sensor to determine whether said input is gesture force input.
 9. The system of claim 1, wherein the robotic arm includes an effector unit, the instrument attachable to the effector unit, and wherein the force sensor is a 6 DOF force/torque sensor fixed to the effector unit.
 10. The system of claim 1, wherein the robotic arm includes a plurality of joints, and wherein the force sensor comprises a plurality of force/torque sensors at said joints.
 11. A method of controlling a robotic arm, comprising: manually applying a force to a body of a robotic arm; receiving first force information from a force sensor on the robotic arm; determining, using the first force information, whether the force is a gesture force input; if the force is a gesture force input, initiating a predetermined system function; manipulating a user input device remote from the robotic arm to generate user input, and moving the robotic arm in response to the user input to manipulate a surgical instrument within a body cavity; and during the step of moving the robotic arm in response to the user input, receiving second force information from the force sensor and, providing haptic feedback signals to the user input device based on the second force information.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the determining step includes using the force information to determine the predetermined system function.
 13. The method of claim 12 wherein the system function is electromechanical movement of the manipulator arm to a predetermined pose or position.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the predetermined pose or position is selected from the group consisting of storage configurations, draping configurations, instrument attachment configurations, home configurations.
 15. The method of claim 11, wherein the system function is movement from a first mode of operation to a second mode of operation.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the first or second mode of operation is selected from the group consisting of a fully compliant mode, an RCM hand-guiding mode, a z-translate mode, and a wheels-unlocked mode.
 17. The method of claim 11, wherein the system function is movement from a first operational state to a second operational state.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the first operational state is an arm disable state.
 19. The method of claim 15, wherein the first or second mode of operation is an RCM hand-guiding mode.
 20. The method of claim 15, wherein the first or second mode of operation is a z-translate mode.
 21. The method of claim 15, wherein the first or second mode of operation is a wheels-unlocked mode. 